Linearly reciprocating wiper apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for wiping a non-planar window has a wiper and a track arrangement including a first track substantially parallel to at least a portion of the window and a second track substantially parallel to and displaced from the first track. A drive wheel assembly includes at least one motorized drive wheel. The drive wheel assembly alternately engages the first and second tracks and drives in alternate directions along the length of the track arrangement for drawing the wiper across the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for wiping a non-planar surface, the apparatus comprising: (a) a track arrangement including at least one track, said at least one track being taken to define a length of said track arrangement;   (b) a drive wheel assembly including at least one motorized drive wheel, said drive wheel assembly engaging said track arrangement, and driving in alternate directions along the length of said track arrangement;   (c) a wiper mechanically coupled to said drive wheel assembly such that movement of said drive wheel assembly along the length of said track arrangement draws said wiper across the surface; and   (d) a motor operatively coupled to said drive wheel assembly for driving said at least one motorized drive wheel, wherein the length of said track defines a non-linear path parallel to a desired non-linear wiping path, and wherein said drive wheel assembly is configured such that continuous rotation of said motor in one direction generates alternating movement of said drive wheel assembly along said track arrangement so as to generate reciprocation of said wiper along said desired non-linear wiping path.     
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one track is implemented as a first track and a second track deployed in substantially parallel, spaced relation. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first track is curved such that a first plane containing both a line of shortest distance between a first point on said first track and said second track and a line tangential to said first track at said first point is non-parallel to a second plane containing both a line of shortest distance between a second point on said first track and said second track and a line tangential to said first track at said second point. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first track is curved such that a line of shortest distance between a first point on said first track and said second track is non-parallel to a line of shortest distance between a second point on said first track and said second track. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said drive wheel assembly drives alternately along said first track in a first direction and along said second track in a second direction opposite to said first direction. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said track arrangement further includes: (a) a first curved connecting track connecting between a first end of said first track and a first end of said second track; and   (b) a second curved connecting track connecting between a second end of said first track and a second end of said second track, such that said first track, said second track, said first connecting track and said second connecting track form a closed loop track.     
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said motorized drive wheel drives along an inner surface of said closed loop track. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said motor is operatively coupled to said drive wheel assembly for driving said at least one motorized drive wheel along said closed loop track. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said motor is mounted so as to be slidable along a path substantially parallel to said first track. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said motor is additionally mounted so as to rotatable about an axis. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking rotation of said motor when said motorized drive wheel is driving along said first track or said second track. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said track arrangement includes a casing substantially enclosing said closed loop track, said casing having a non-linear slot running substantially parallel to said first track. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said single motorized drive wheel has a first surface with teeth for driving along said first track and a second surface with teeth for driving along said first curved connecting track. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first track has a first removable section and said second track has a second removable section, the apparatus further comprising an additional curved connecting track, said additional curved connecting track being substitutable for said first removable section and said second removable section so as to form a shortened closed loop track. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said drive wheel assembly includes a spring-biased mechanism assuming a first position in which said drive wheel assembly enrages said first track and a second position in which said drive wheel assemble engages said second track. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one motorized drive wheel is implemented as a first and a second motorized drive wheel, said drive wheel assembly further including a mechanism for alternately driving said first motorized drive wheel alone said first track and said second motorized drive wheel along said second track. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one motorized drive wheel is implemented as a single motorized drive wheel said drive wheel assembly further including a mechanism for transferring said single motorized drive wheel between said first track and said second track. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motor is mounted so as to be slidable along a path substantially parallel to said at least one track. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive wheel assembly includes a mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation of said at least one motorized drive wheel. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motor is operatively coupled through a flexible drive cable to said drive wheel assembly for driving said at least one motorized drive wheel. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one track has a non-uniform curvature. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one track has non-coplanar curvature. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said track arrangement includes a casino substantially enclosing said at least one track, said casing having a non-linear slot running substantially parallel to said at least one track. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wiper has a length, said length forming a first angle with the wiping path when said wiper is at a first end of the wiping path, said length forming a second angle with the wiping path different from said first angle when said wiper is at a second end of the wiping path. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support mechanism for supporting said wiper such that it can move exclusively along the preferred wiping path. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus for wiping a non-planar surface, the apparatus comprising: (a) a track arrangement including a first track and a second track deployed in substantially parallel, spaced relation, said first track being taken to define a length of said track arrangement;   (b) a drive wheel assembly including at least one motorized drive wheel, said drive wheel assembly alternately engaging said first and said second tracks, and driving in alternate directions along the length of said track arrangement; and   (c) a wiper mechanically coupled to said drive wheel assembly such that movement of said drive wheel assembly along the length of said track arrangement draws said wiper across the surface, wherein the length of said track arrangement defines a non-linear path parallel to a desired non-linear wiping path such that said wiper reciprocates along said desired non-linear wiping path.